Gerbil117:This was partially covered by the WoW and Zelda questions, but can we use characterizations/representations of real life individuals? More specifically, those that do features on The Escapist such as Shamus or Yahtzee Croshaw, assuming that:

1.) It is done in good taste (obviously, and I realize this would be very subjective)2.) It does not constitute libel towards said individual(s)3.) No infringement of said Escapist feature(s) occurs

I ask this without knowing the legal relationship that the Escapist has with it's content writers/contributors.

This is a very grey area. While you are allowed to use images from the Warcraft Universe, doing anything to promote a brand (say a certain soda) or putting them in unflattering situations that could hurt the brand, would get the comic closed before you could blink. So, if you are just using the images or even your characters from the game but your content is not affect the brand, you should be okay. There are a lot of webcomics out there that use parody from games, so the only thing we can do is ask you to try and we'll see what happens.

Penny Arcade has been cited quite a bit in this thread. Many of the PA comics involve Gabe's renditions of game characters and parodies of situations involving their games (my favorite of all time is when Nova tries to take shelter from the Nihilistic Software/Blizzard fiasco in Tycho and Gabe's apartment, resulting in Tycho nearly being garroted).

Would it be safe to assume that humor and parody in the same flavor as Penny Arcade would be acceptable for this competition?

Thank you for your time, and I'm glad to see so many good discussions, good questions and good answers being thrown around!

Yes, it would be safe to assume that humor and parody could be used in the same way.

Spinwhiz:If it is a parody or satire of a game and everything it encompasses, it's probably okay. Sending Link out on another adventure will send Nintendo your way in a hurry but if you are using a likeness of Link and creating a funny adventure, there is a possibility it may be okay.

To stay with Zelda, if you are poking fun at something in Zelda and using a likeness of Link, again probably as well.

Taking specific items out of any game or storyline and generating more content based on that becomes fan fiction, which will most certainly bring Nintendo's lawyers sending over a cease and desist order.

What about repurposing existing iconic characters and giving them new plots in different worlds, à la There Will Be Brawl?

It's possible, sure. It will be up to us to decide whether or not it crosses the line.

Ivankov:Also, the one-fram logo that's not actually a comic, is it basically just like a banner, like you would see on penny-arcade or other sites? Please let me know, thanks.

Yup, like a banner with your webcomic name.

SergeXIII:"Webcomics submitted to The Escapist Webcomic Contest must be the exclusive property of the contest entrant and have never before appeared or been broadcast in any form anywhere"

Can I take this to mean that we cannot use comics that we have published on the web for this? If so, does this apply for new installments to our established series and reoccuring characters?

No comics from the web will be accepted. We are really looking for new stories and characters as well, so continuations of an ongoing series probably wouldn't make it for this contest.

psudonym:Soo... what's The Escapist's stance on pen names and pseudonyms?

I work under a few, and not for nefarious reasons. I just enjoy my privacy and general anonymity.

You are welcome to submit under a pseudonym or pen name but you MUST PM me your actual name for reasons that by entering into this contest you are signing a legal contract, which means we need to know who you are.

I'm just curious, as it isn't specifically stated on the details page, or at least I can't find it, but how are the winners chosen?Is it by public vote?

Also, are the 4 pages being submitted, would you prefer it to be the start of the comic, or can it be a sample of the contents and jokes? (This assuming it is a story driven comic that progresses from each comic to the next).

The legal writing seems to contradict itself in two places.

General Rules:The contestant hereby grants a non-exclusive, royalty free, world-wide, irrevocable, perpetual license to publish, distribute, sell, and otherwise exploit the Contest Entry in any medium to Company. The contestant retains all other right, title, and interest in the Contest Entry.

Legal Stuff:Any entry becomes the property of Themis Group, Inc. and will not be returned. Except where otherwise defined by the General Rules of this contest, entrants surrender copyright and all interests therein of their submissions to Themis Group, Inc. with the understanding that the materials may be used for promotional purposes.

Am I correct in understanding that the author(s) of a webcomic entry own the Intellectual Property and copyright to the entries, and that Escapist/Themis Media are just licensing the rights to publish the work?

If such an author were to win, is this still the same type of licence that would be using in an ongoing contract? Or would the Escapist/Themis Media become the owner of the image files?

Obviously you guys need to turn the comic into a revenue stream to pay for itself, by selling merchandise, I'm probably guessing t-shirts. Is there any limitation on the author(s) going to say a web-comic convention and representing themselves and selling their own merchandise?

Are there any restrictions towards derivative works of the Intellectual Property? Say for example if I were to create posters or a video regarding the character(s) of the webcomic, possibly a screencapture of myself drawing a comic strip. Am I free to upload those posters to say Deviantart, and say videos to Youtube?

All of the technical stuff aside, I can certainly see what you guys are looking for and I'm hoping I'm exactly what you're after. You guys are offering a very nice deal, as you have a very influential and rewarding user base already. I had a gamer-related web-comic idea that has always been in my head but I haven't really fleshed it out on paper. This is the perfect opportunity and motivation to do such a thing.

Apologies for all the legal/technical questions, I just want it to be very clear what kind of restrictions there are working to this contract, rather than going to self published route. I am not just interested in creating just another web comic, I'm interested in making a professional career out of it. Part of doing that is going beyond just creating the comic, its creating stuff the fans want whether it's posters or t-shirts or plushies.

Last question! Is the author(s) revenue from the contract primarily (whats the word!?) percentage based? As in if I were to create 3 or 5 comics per week rather than 2, and that meant higher traffic, do I earn more? Or is it a set amount per week/number of comics? I know you vaguely answered this earlier on, I am just after some clarification.

As I said I'm interested in doing this professionally and properly. Feel free to message me the answers if you feel it would be more appropriate.

Forgive me, as the five existing pages might already suffice to answer the forthcoming queries, but I always get a bit clothy when it comes to the jargon.

Am I correct or incorrect in inferring the following...:

1) ... that entrants retain the rights to the characters and the ideas in their submission, but rights to the images themselves are forfeited effectively indefinitely - meaning that, if the entry is unsuccessful, the five images submitted cannot be sent elsewhere?

2) ... that the contest winner will have no say in any promotion or merchandising, and will not be paid royalties for any merchandise which is sold; will not be paid, indeed, anything beyond the initial salary negotiated?

3) ... that the comic HAS to be about games?

The last question might seem a little simple, given the niche subject of the site at large, but given that 'favourites' cited included Gary Larson's Far Side and the Garfield comics it doesn't seem to foolhardy to surmise that perhaps any subject matter, so long as it is successful in its goals to be entertaining and/or amusing, is acceptable and is in with a chance of winning?

I ask these questions because, as you might imagine, my comic is not *strictly* gaming related and I'm far from keen on the idea of relinquishing rights to four strips in a contest they're not likely to win (in fact, I'm not keen on the idea at all, as I happen to think that the strips so far are rather good).

Also, as I've been visiting the site for a while but only signed up for the contest, this is my first post on the forums. In light of this: hello, Escapist community.

Netrosis:I'm just curious, as it isn't specifically stated on the details page, or at least I can't find it, but how are the winners chosen?Is it by public vote?

Also, are the 4 pages being submitted, would you prefer it to be the start of the comic, or can it be a sample of the contents and jokes? (This assuming it is a story driven comic that progresses from each comic to the next).

Either way is okay with us. It depends on the layout of your comic strip really. If it's a story, you may want to start from the beginning but if it's jokes, you have the ability to give us whatever you choose.

SNIP

All of these questions will be answered if you win and we start to draw up a contract. And trust me, we go over EVERYTHING before both parties agree to a contract.

Bejogo:Forgive me, as the five existing pages might already suffice to answer the forthcoming queries, but I always get a bit clothy when it comes to the jargon.

Am I correct or incorrect in inferring the following...:

1) ... that entrants retain the rights to the characters and the ideas in their submission, but rights to the images themselves are forfeited effectively indefinitely - meaning that, if the entry is unsuccessful, the five images submitted cannot be sent elsewhere?

No, you can do whatever you like with them if you don't win.

2) ... that the contest winner will have no say in any promotion or merchandising, and will not be paid royalties for any merchandise which is sold; will not be paid, indeed, anything beyond the initial salary negotiated?

This will all be part of the contract if you win, which both parties will agree upon. For this event, we can choose to promote it however we choose.

3) ... that the comic HAS to be about games?

Well, we are a gaming site, so it would probably be beneficial to have something to do with gaming. On the other hand, if you feel your content would be liked by The Escapist community and it's not about games, please feel free to enter it. It will still be a valid entry, even if it isn't about gaming.

The last question might seem a little simple, given the niche subject of the site at large, but given that 'favourites' cited included Gary Larson's Far Side and the Garfield comics it doesn't seem to foolhardy to surmise that perhaps any subject matter, so long as it is successful in its goals to be entertaining and/or amusing, is acceptable and is in with a chance of winning?

Netrosis:Also, are the 4 pages being submitted, would you prefer it to be the start of the comic, or can it be a sample of the contents and jokes? (This assuming it is a story driven comic that progresses from each comic to the next).

Either way is okay with us. It depends on the layout of your comic strip really. If it's a story, you may want to start from the beginning but if it's jokes, you have the ability to give us whatever you choose.

Alright, thanks for the answer. It's just with only 4 pages, it's difficult to both introduce all the characters, and give a sample of the funny that gives a good impression of the comic in the long term.

1) ... that entrants retain the rights to the characters and the ideas in their submission, but rights to the images themselves are forfeited effectively indefinitely - meaning that, if the entry is unsuccessful, the five images submitted cannot be sent elsewhere?

No, you can do whatever you like with them if you don't win.

Okay, so does this mean that if our entry does NOT win the contest, then we retain the rights to the concept and the images we sent you, but you can use those specific images we submitted, for free, and in perpetuity? The Escapist retains no rights whatsoever to the intellectual property and any future published artwork or merchandise?

Netrosis:Alright, thanks for the answer. It's just with only 4 pages, it's difficult to both introduce all the characters, and give a sample of the funny that gives a good impression of the comic in the long term.

The submission doesn't need to be an all encompassing view of your comic it just needs to give them a look at what your comic is like so they can see if it is worth publishing.I believe we are also suppose to give a written synopsis of the comic as a whole. That is where you will be able to give all your character details and whatnot.

Hey Spinwhiz, would it be okay for me to send you one or two of my "edgier" comics? I have a hard time understanding the specifics of copyright laws and that stuff, and I don't want to forfeit my entry because my comics are too controversial. Do you think you could have a look and tell me if they are within the boundaries?

after reading this entire thread, i can't say i've ever seen the same questions asked before so many times. while it was good to know that individual panels can be divided however we chose i just can't help but laugh. if the subject matter wasn't so niche, i'd say a web comic based on spinwhiz asked the same question forty thousand times would be a riot. anyways....

on the copyright issue.

firstly, i don't know about all of you, but the sole reason i even knew about this site's existence was zero punctuation. in zp, yahtzee has made several yet subtle mentions on how working with the escapist has made his finances significantly better. for such a sharp-tounged bastard to say that implies to me that the escapist takes care of their own. i could be wrong and end up being no lubed to the stolen idea poorhouse for intellectual property noobs but that's the vibe i get.

secondly, how mind-shattering awesome do you think your ideas are? and to add to that question, how balls to the wall desperate do you think the escapist is to exploit ideas from some random internet poster? if you are not an already employed writer and/or artist, i would say the answer to both those questions is 'not that much at all'. i think the copyright clause is worded the way it is just to cover the escapist's end so they don't get sued in a sue happy world. plus i'm sure the escapist isn't looking to start another jeff gerstman-esque scandal.

but to be honest, even if the escapist was out to exploit my ideas to hell and back, as long as i'm getting recognition for it (which can possibly lead to great things) and am able to make a living by drawing and not eating ramen noodles 25/8 like i am now, who cares? the way things have been going, i'd gladly offer up at least half of all the ideas i've ever had in my life just for a sliver of lasting optimism.

but you know, that's just me.

i'm ecstatic that this contest has been made open to us and win or lose, i'm submitting something. i came here to see if the new zp was up and found something much better instead.

it's wednesday feb 10th; 8:30 a.m. where i'm at now. i'll be starting this web comic submission today. let's see how long it takes me.

lihimsidhe:after reading this entire thread, i can't say i've ever seen the same questions asked before so many times. while it was good to know that individual panels can be divided however we chose i just can't help but laugh. if the subject matter wasn't so niche, i'd say a web comic based on spinwhiz asked the same question forty thousand times would be a riot. anyways....

on the copyright issue.

firstly, i don't know about all of you, but the sole reason i even knew about this site's existence was zero punctuation. in zp, yahtzee has made several yet subtle mentions on how working with the escapist has made his finances significantly better. for such a sharp-tounged bastard to say that implies to me that the escapist takes care of their own. i could be wrong and end up being no lubed to the stolen idea poorhouse for intellectual property noobs but that's the vibe i get.

secondly, how mind-shattering awesome do you think your ideas are? and to add to that question, how balls to the wall desperate do you think the escapist is to exploit ideas from some random internet poster? if you are not an already employed writer and/or artist, i would say the answer to both those questions is 'not that much at all'. i think the copyright clause is worded the way it is just to cover the escapist's end so they don't get sued in a sue happy world. plus i'm sure the escapist isn't looking to start another jeff gerstman-esque scandal.

but to be honest, even if the escapist was out to exploit my ideas to hell and back, as long as i'm getting recognition for it (which can possibly lead to great things) and am able to make a living by drawing and not eating ramen noodles 25/8 like i am now, who cares? the way things have been going, i'd gladly offer up at least half of all the ideas i've ever had in my life just for a sliver of lasting optimism.

but you know, that's just me.

i'm ecstatic that this contest has been made open to us and win or lose, i'm submitting something. i came here to see if the new zp was up and found something much better instead.

it's wednesday feb 10th; 8:30 a.m. where i'm at now. i'll be starting this web comic submission today. let's see how long it takes me.

lihimsidhe:secondly, how mind-shattering awesome do you think your ideas are? and to add to that question, how balls to the wall desperate do you think the escapist is to exploit ideas from some random internet poster? if you are not an already employed writer and/or artist, i would say the answer to both those questions is 'not that much at all'.

Well put. All of you severly overestimate your art skills and humor. Now, let me tell you, MY art and humor have shattered some minds. LINK LINK LINK. Now, let's talk about preserving all of my copyright brilliance and marketing rights indefinitely on a public forum. Oh wait. I guess I don't have an original webcomic worthy of posting on the interwebz or it would probably already be there. :)

Oh well. I have 20 more days. How tough could it be, eh? Maybe something about a time-traveling weasel with an eyepatch and a spunky wisecracking robot. Good luck everysbody. "The Misadventures of Spunkbot and the One-Eyed Weaz" is going to be tough to beat.

First is how should we go about submitting a comic done by more then one person? Should I just submit it and slap their name on it too?

second one might break some social rule but it has been bothering me and will factor into how much we can invest. I do not need anything exact because I know that would be in the contract, but what kind of wage would the published comic net us? We can do alot more if we do not have to worry about holding another job (or atleast full time job) in addition to doing the strips. Our goal is to work as professionals after all.

aeroz:second one might break some social rule but it has been bothering me and will factor into how much we can invest. I do not need anything exact because I know that would be in the contract, but what kind of wage would the published comic net us? We can do alot more if we do not have to worry about holding another job (or atleast full time job) in addition to doing the strips. Our goal is to work as professionals after all.

Regardless of the winner, are you going to post up all the entries for shits and giggles? That'd be awesome. Hell you should have we, the people, vote for a winner... or at least the one we think should of won...

Screw_it:Regardless of the winner, are you going to post up all the entries for shits and giggles? That'd be awesome. Hell you should have we, the people, vote for a winner... or at least the one we think should of won...

It would be cool to see a sampling of entries at the end of this- I'd like to see everyone I was up against.

I have no idea if it's been asked already but it's bugging me, What's the policy on art work that's already been uploaded to a site like DeviantArt, which isn't so much publishing as it is an online portfolio?Will I be allowed to submit such artworks or will I be required to remove it all from that site beforehand? (considering it's all my work)Or if I'll have to create an entirely new idea all together.

If you have posted the work you are submitting ANYWHERE, you cannot enter it into this contest. While can appreciate what DeviantArt offers to people with an art portfolio, we want your NEW ideas, not stuff you have been working on. We want to show the world for the first time, right here on The Escapist and let everyone we know to come check it out.

The spirit of this event is for new art, which shows us what you are capable of putting together within a month but also shows us if you are able to draw up 2 comics per week and if we can rely on you.

We know there are a ton of great writers and artists out there but bring us the new and awesome from your arsenal. If others have already seen it published anywhere, it's not new enough.

That's all fine and dandy sir, but you didn't specify that on the contest page. I'm rather ticked off now that I've already submitted my comic that has been posted on dA, (seen by few), and now I can't submit anything else. I'm sorry I didn't read though this whole discussion thing and didn't stumble upon the comment first. Being disqualified without being told the rules isn't a fair game. (end tiny rant.)

But come now, there are lots of us out there who have ideas and we have played with them some, shown them to a few people. We just want to see those ideas fly. You should be jumping at the chance to hire those who have good ideas, even if they have been around a little bit. You could specify that if they get the contract that they have to take down those images, or have them rewrite the idea a bit, or just be willing to make all new comics with that idea. I would also like to point out that Yahtzee himself was on youtube with his show before working with you guys, so I don't see how this policy is... good?

But all that said, you will pick who's the best fit for you regardless. I'm sorry I missed out on this opportunity, but please specify this on the main page for future participants if this is your game plan. It's not fair to them or you.

(PS, if you could let me back into the contest I could post a completely new comic. Just scrap what I sent you. /bigsadeyes.)

Furrama:That's all fine and dandy sir, but you didn't specify that on the contest page. I'm rather ticked off now that I've already submitted my comic that has been posted on dA, (seen by few), and now I can't submit anything else. I'm sorry I didn't read though this whole discussion thing and didn't stumble upon the comment first. Being disqualified without being told the rules isn't a fair game. (end tiny rant.)

Perhaps you should have read the rules a little more carefully. Seeing as under the heading General Rules in bold blue letters there is a short list, the first item on the list saying:

Webcomics submitted to The Escapist Webcomic Contest must be the exclusive property of the contest entrant and have never before appeared or been broadcast in any form anywhere.

I believe that it is safe to assume that when it says "...never before appeared or been broadcast in any form anywhere." That includes Deviant Art.

Furrama:That's all fine and dandy sir, but you didn't specify that on the contest page. I'm rather ticked off now that I've already submitted my comic that has been posted on dA, (seen by few), and now I can't submit anything else. I'm sorry I didn't read though this whole discussion thing and didn't stumble upon the comment first. Being disqualified without being told the rules isn't a fair game. (end tiny rant.)

Perhaps you should have read the rules a little more carefully. Seeing as under the heading General Rules in bold blue letters there is a short list, the first item on the list saying:

Webcomics submitted to The Escapist Webcomic Contest must be the exclusive property of the contest entrant and have never before appeared or been broadcast in any form anywhere.

I believe that it is safe to assume that when it says "...never before appeared or been broadcast in any form anywhere." That includes Deviant Art.

Ah, I see it. I'm sorry guys, I just didn't see it before. I take back the spittle, sorry sorry.

In any case, I'd still like to re-enter and try again under the rules. Do I need to make a new account?

SergeXIII:"Webcomics submitted to The Escapist Webcomic Contest must be the exclusive property of the contest entrant and have never before appeared or been broadcast in any form anywhere"

Can I take this to mean that we cannot use comics that we have published on the web for this? If so, does this apply for new installments to our established series and reoccuring characters?

No comics from the web will be accepted. We are really looking for new stories and characters as well, so continuations of an ongoing series probably wouldn't make it for this contest.

This has me some-what worried.As my comic is a re-vamped version of a previously made series (made by me of course).

Although saying that, the characters, the format and overall comedic style and influence are entirely different.In fact the only thing that remains the same about the series is the inclusion of my creative likeness (who doesn't feature all that much, he's more of an announcer role).

I'm wondering if that'd have much of an affect on my entry?I have mentioned that it's an all together re-worked version (so re-worked that it's only link to the old stuff is the title...) in my text submission so it's not like I'm hiding it that it's derived from an idea I made a month ago.

I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that my idea isn't considered invalid...(Especially since I've already submitted it, so it's too late to go back).

Also, I've removed all traces of the strip as it existed from the internet for the sake of this contest So as it is, So the submission is an entirely original concept in the way it exists now.

lihimsidhe:after reading this entire thread, i can't say i've ever seen the same questions asked before so many times. while it was good to know that individual panels can be divided however we chose i just can't help but laugh. if the subject matter wasn't so niche, i'd say a web comic based on spinwhiz asked the same question forty thousand times would be a riot. anyways....

on the copyright issue.

firstly, i don't know about all of you, but the sole reason i even knew about this site's existence was zero punctuation. in zp, yahtzee has made several yet subtle mentions on how working with the escapist has made his finances significantly better. for such a sharp-tounged bastard to say that implies to me that the escapist takes care of their own. i could be wrong and end up being no lubed to the stolen idea poorhouse for intellectual property noobs but that's the vibe i get.

secondly, how mind-shattering awesome do you think your ideas are? and to add to that question, how balls to the wall desperate do you think the escapist is to exploit ideas from some random internet poster? if you are not an already employed writer and/or artist, i would say the answer to both those questions is 'not that much at all'. i think the copyright clause is worded the way it is just to cover the escapist's end so they don't get sued in a sue happy world. plus i'm sure the escapist isn't looking to start another jeff gerstman-esque scandal.

but to be honest, even if the escapist was out to exploit my ideas to hell and back, as long as i'm getting recognition for it (which can possibly lead to great things) and am able to make a living by drawing and not eating ramen noodles 25/8 like i am now, who cares? the way things have been going, i'd gladly offer up at least half of all the ideas i've ever had in my life just for a sliver of lasting optimism.

but you know, that's just me.

i'm ecstatic that this contest has been made open to us and win or lose, i'm submitting something. i came here to see if the new zp was up and found something much better instead.

it's wednesday feb 10th; 8:30 a.m. where i'm at now. i'll be starting this web comic submission today. let's see how long it takes me.

and to everyone else, good luck!!!! :)

Whoa there, pony! Brag, much? It's cool that you think everyone is shallow in the talent department and that's why we don't have jobs in writer/art fields; but honestly, most of us are still in high school, most of us don't expect to win...

i wasn't going to enter, but i am so gonna enter now out of spite to your comment. i'm gonna steal a pack of xerox from the school today because of you! just so i can doodle a comic strip! i don't even know what it's gonna be about! but in logic with your comment, it'll be crap! but i don't care! and when i lose, i'm gonna say "i did something... out of spite"!

it's friday feb 12th; 6:25 a.m. where i am at now. i gotta leave for school in an hour and then watch the Opening Ceremonies in the evening... but after that, i'll be starting my spite comic tomorrow. let's see how long it takes me.

I have no idea if it's been asked already but it's bugging me, What's the policy on art work that's already been uploaded to a site like DeviantArt, which isn't so much publishing as it is an online portfolio?Will I be allowed to submit such artworks or will I be required to remove it all from that site beforehand? (considering it's all my work)Or if I'll have to create an entirely new idea all together.

If you have posted the work you are submitting ANYWHERE, you cannot enter it into this contest. While can appreciate what DeviantArt offers to people with an art portfolio, we want your NEW ideas, not stuff you have been working on. We want to show the world for the first time, right here on The Escapist and let everyone we know to come check it out.

The spirit of this event is for new art, which shows us what you are capable of putting together within a month but also shows us if you are able to draw up 2 comics per week and if we can rely on you.

We know there are a ton of great writers and artists out there but bring us the new and awesome from your arsenal. If others have already seen it published anywhere, it's not new enough.

That's all fine and dandy sir, but you didn't specify that on the contest page. I'm rather ticked off now that I've already submitted my comic that has been posted on dA, (seen by few), and now I can't submit anything else. I'm sorry I didn't read though this whole discussion thing and didn't stumble upon the comment first. Being disqualified without being told the rules isn't a fair game. (end tiny rant.)

But come now, there are lots of us out there who have ideas and we have played with them some, shown them to a few people. We just want to see those ideas fly. You should be jumping at the chance to hire those who have good ideas, even if they have been around a little bit. You could specify that if they get the contract that they have to take down those images, or have them rewrite the idea a bit, or just be willing to make all new comics with that idea. I would also like to point out that Yahtzee himself was on youtube with his show before working with you guys, so I don't see how this policy is... good?

But all that said, you will pick who's the best fit for you regardless. I'm sorry I missed out on this opportunity, but please specify this on the main page for future participants if this is your game plan. It's not fair to them or you.

(PS, if you could let me back into the contest I could post a completely new comic. Just scrap what I sent you. /bigsadeyes.)

How is "Webcomics submitted to The Escapist Webcomic Contest must be the exclusive property of the contest entrant and have never before appeared or been broadcast in any form anywhere" not clear enough for everyone?

SergeXIII:"Webcomics submitted to The Escapist Webcomic Contest must be the exclusive property of the contest entrant and have never before appeared or been broadcast in any form anywhere"

Can I take this to mean that we cannot use comics that we have published on the web for this? If so, does this apply for new installments to our established series and reoccuring characters?

No comics from the web will be accepted. We are really looking for new stories and characters as well, so continuations of an ongoing series probably wouldn't make it for this contest.

This has me some-what worried.As my comic is a re-vamped version of a previously made series (made by me of course).

Although saying that, the characters, the format and overall comedic style and influence are entirely different.In fact the only thing that remains the same about the series is the inclusion of my creative likeness (who doesn't feature all that much, he's more of an announcer role).

I'm wondering if that'd have much of an affect on my entry?I have mentioned that it's an all together re-worked version (so re-worked that it's only link to the old stuff is the title...) in my text submission so it's not like I'm hiding it that it's derived from an idea I made a month ago.

I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that my idea isn't considered invalid...(Especially since I've already submitted it, so it's too late to go back).

Also, I've removed all traces of the strip as it existed from the internet for the sake of this contest So as it is, So the submission is an entirely original concept in the way it exists now.

Well, if it's different from what you had up before, then that is still different, so you should be good to go. We want new ideas, so if yours are new from what you previously had up on DeviantArt, we look forward to seeing it.

Furrama:That's all fine and dandy sir, but you didn't specify that on the contest page. I'm rather ticked off now that I've already submitted my comic that has been posted on dA, (seen by few), and now I can't submit anything else. I'm sorry I didn't read though this whole discussion thing and didn't stumble upon the comment first. Being disqualified without being told the rules isn't a fair game. (end tiny rant.)

Perhaps you should have read the rules a little more carefully. Seeing as under the heading General Rules in bold blue letters there is a short list, the first item on the list saying:

Webcomics submitted to The Escapist Webcomic Contest must be the exclusive property of the contest entrant and have never before appeared or been broadcast in any form anywhere.

I believe that it is safe to assume that when it says "...never before appeared or been broadcast in any form anywhere." That includes Deviant Art.

Ah, I see it. I'm sorry guys, I just didn't see it before. I take back the spittle, sorry sorry.

In any case, I'd still like to re-enter and try again under the rules. Do I need to make a new account?

Spinwiz, you didn't answer my question, and you ignored this post in your previous post. What do I have to do to re-enter legitimately at this point?